Government Initiatives for Sports Promotion in India
Author : Yasir Mursaleen Ayub
Abstract :
Over the last decade India has placed sport and physical fitness high on its national agenda. From large-scale talent-search and grassroots infrastructure to elite-performance funding and mass fitness drives, the Government of India now runs a portfolio of programmes intended to increase participation, improve performance at international events, and build a culture of fitness. This paper reviews major government initiatives (policy frameworks, flagship schemes, institutional mechanisms), assesses their achievements and challenges, and suggests policy and operational reforms to make sports promotion more equitable, evidence-driven, and sustainable. The analysis draws on government sources and programme descriptions (Khelo India, Fit India, TOPS, SAI schemes), implementation examples, and published evaluations to present a comprehensive picture of how public policy shapes sport in contemporary India.
Keywords : Statutory bodies, major government initiative, sports promotion